Faculty Directory

Akin, David

Akin, David

Professor
Director of Space Systems Laboratory
Aerospace Engineering
Maryland Robotics Center
2100D Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility

EDUCATION

  • B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( Aeronautics & Astronautics)
  • M.S.,  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Aeronautics & Astronautics)
  • Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Aeronautics & Astronautics)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Professional Services

  • Member, AIAA Distinguished Lecturer Program
  • Member, AIAA Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee Chairman 1998-99
  • Member of NASA Telerobotics Intercenter Working Group
  • Member of NASWA EVA Forum
  • Member, NASA Solar System Exploration Subcommittee, Space Science Advisory Committee
  • Member, NASA Task Force on Technology Readiness
  • Member, NASA Mars Exploration Program Formulation and Planning Team
  • Organizer, NASA Mars Exploration Program Research Outreach Workshop
  • Chairman, Space Systems Faculty Search Committee (x2)
  • Chairman, Systems Design Curriculum Committee

Institutional Services

  • Member, Systems Dynamics and Control Curriculum Committee
  • Member of Undergraduate Committee
  • Member, University Diving Control Board
  • Member, Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Committee

 

The Future Takes Flight at Maryland

2025 Highlights in Discovery, Leadership, and Impact

Transforming Engineering: Highlighting Maryland Engineers

In celebration of Black History Month, we highlight the many impactful contributions of Black engineers in our community—students, alums, faculty, and staff—to the Clark School, our university, and world.

Diving Deeper into Competition, and Recruitment

UMD’s RoboSub team sets sights on blasting the 2024 competition out of the water.

Investing in Environmentally Responsible Engineering

A grant from The Lemelson Foundation will accelerate environmentally and socially responsible engineering through innovation in undergraduate curricula.

Clark School Engineers 3D Print Protective Face Shields

Clark School faculty and additive manufacturing experts are working to 3D print protective face shields in response to critical PPE shortages.

Found in Space

How an 18-year-old student engineering project showed up in a new sci-fi book.

Clark School Team to Compete in NASA's RASC-AL Competition

A team of Clark School students will compete in this year's RASC-AL competition, held June 18-20, 2019.

Bioinspired robotics REU students present final projects

The REU was led by Hugh Bruck and Sarah Bergbreiter, along with Clark School faculty and graduate student mentors.

UMD RASC-AL Team Wins Big, Akin Recognized with PEACH Award

A team of 19 undergraduate students won first place for the RASC-AL theme category and second place in the overall competition.

MRC faculty hosting REU summer program in bioinspired robotics

Ten undergraduate students from throughout the US are conducting research under the guidance of MRC faculty.

UMD Team Takes Second at NASA BIG Ideas Design Competition

Aerospace Engineering undergrads design winning solar electric propulsion (SEP)-powered space tug.

Two UMD Teams NASA BIG Idea Challenge Finalists

Two UMD Aerospace Engineering student teams selected as finalists in NASA's BIG Idea Challenge.

Paley presents at NAE 2016 Frontiers of Engineering Symposium

Three Clark School faculty attend NAE 2016 Frontiers of Engineering Symposium.

UMD Students Win 2015 RASC-AL Competition

Aerospace engineering students design winning concept for a Mars settlement and lunar refueling station.

UMD Team Wins 2015 Robo-Ops and Sets New Course Record

Maryland students and their rover 'Frigg' win first place at the 2015 Robo-Ops Competition.

Maryland Robotics Center hosts Northrop Grumman Navigation and Maritime Systems Division team

Meeting attendees identified and discussed topics of mutual interest.

Aerospace Students Excel at 14th AIAA YPSE Conference

UMD students placed in both presentations and paper categories at the 14th AIAA YPSE Conference.

Students present final projects for 2014 NSF Microrobotics REU

Research ranged from robotic skin to leg designs, inertial tail actuators, and more.

UMD Alumni Hatch Sub-$300 Consumer 3D Printer, Raise $3.3 Million on Kickstarter

Alumni-founded company races past $50,000 goal in 11 minutes, hits $1 million in 25 hours.

UMD Takes Second at 2013 RASC-AL Competition

Undergraduate aerospace design team places second at NASA RASC-AL competition.

Clark School Students Shine in Recent Competitions

Teams earn first place in DOE Hydrogen Student Design Contest; third in NASA Robo-ops Competition.

Maryland students impress at National Robotics Week

Projects highlight Maryland Robotics Center research.

Akin is finalist in Hubble Space Telescope repair plan

June 2004—Ranger robot developed by ISR associate professor could be used to repair famed eye in the sky.

Akin team ties for first place at NASA competition

May 2004—"MORPHLAB" to be presented at AIAA Space 2004.

Space Systems Laboratory's Ranger robot is proposed to NASA

Proposal is made to assist in upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope

Akin PI for NASA ASTEP award

Program examines extreme Earth environments to enable future space missions to determine whether life exists or has existed.

Akin, Principal Investigator for NASA award

NASA's $3 million ASTEP award will fund development of dexterous robot arm...

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